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At about 9:15 a.m., a call came into emergency dispatchers in reference to a kitten that homeowners had heard meowing for at least two days. Despite their efforts, the residents hadn't been able to rescue the kitten and knew the window for a safe rescue was closing, said Spartanburg Public Safety Maj. Steve Lamb.

Animal Services Officer Jessica Lancaster said it's unclear how the kitten had gotten trapped. The residents tried to dig a hole large enough to rescue the kitten but stopped when they thought the hole might collapse.

“I started digging by hand to open up the hole so I could see what exactly we were dealing with,” Lancaster said. “I finally removed enough dirt so the kitten could come halfway out, and I pulled it the rest of the way.”

Lamb said Lancaster dug and “meowed,” to help gain the kitten's trust, for about an hour before she was able to pull it to safety.

“It was hissing at first,” Lancaster said. “I dropped some food in and could hear him eating, and when I would meow, he would meow back.”

When the kitten was pulled to safety, he was a little dehydrated, but good health otherwise.

The kitten, which Lamb named Jo-Jo, was taken to Animal Allies and will be placed with a foster home. That home will care for him until he weighs 2 pounds — he's about 1 pound, 4 ounces now — and can then be neutered and adopted.

Lamb said since he posted photos of Jo-Jo's rescue, and his muddy body afterward, on the Animal Service's Facebook page, he has received calls and messages from about 100 people from Spartanburg and surrounding areas, as well as North Carolina and Georgia. There will likely be a drawing to determine Jo-Jo's forever home, Lamb said.

Animal Services has recently taken a new approach to animal control, Lamb said. Instead of enforcement, the officers focus more on outreach and partnerships with the community and organizations.

The department has begun a trap, neuter and release program for feral cats that has been so successful that no cats have been euthanized this year.

“The response has been overwhelming,” Lamb said. “We have had zero complaints from the community. Everyone has gotten behind it.”

Through a $38,000 PetSmart Charities grant, the department traps feral cats, has them sterilized and ear-tipped to identify them as sterilized, and then the animals are released.

“We've been able to reduce call volume and are making Spartanburg an animal-friendly community,” Lamb said.

Animal Allies currently has a need for foster homes for kittens that are too young to be sterilized. The Animal Services department would still like to find people who know of wild, feral cats that need to be sterilized.

For more information, visit the Animal Allies website at www.animalallies.org or call 576-6971, or visit the Public Safety Animal Services Facebook page at www.facebook.com/spartanburgpets.

<p>A small kitten trapped in a hole beside a Meridith Circle house had little hope Wednesday, but now almost 100 people want to adopt the gray-and-white feline affectionately known as Jo-Jo.</p><p>At about 9:15 a.m., a call came into emergency dispatchers in reference to a kitten that homeowners had heard meowing for at least two days. Despite their efforts, the residents hadn't been able to rescue the kitten and knew the window for a safe rescue was closing, said Spartanburg Public Safety Maj. Steve Lamb.</p><p>Animal Services Officer Jessica Lancaster said it's unclear how the kitten had gotten trapped. The residents tried to dig a hole large enough to rescue the kitten but stopped when they thought the hole might collapse.</p><p>“I started digging by hand to open up the hole so I could see what exactly we were dealing with,” Lancaster said. “I finally removed enough dirt so the kitten could come halfway out, and I pulled it the rest of the way.”</p><p>Lamb said Lancaster dug and “meowed,” to help gain the kitten's trust, for about an hour before she was able to pull it to safety.</p><p>“It was hissing at first,” Lancaster said. “I dropped some food in and could hear him eating, and when I would meow, he would meow back.”</p><p>When the kitten was pulled to safety, he was a little dehydrated, but good health otherwise.</p><p>The kitten, which Lamb named Jo-Jo, was taken to Animal Allies and will be placed with a foster home. That home will care for him until he weighs 2 pounds — he's about 1 pound, 4 ounces now — and can then be neutered and adopted.</p><p>Lamb said since he posted photos of Jo-Jo's rescue, and his muddy body afterward, on the Animal Service's Facebook page, he has received calls and messages from about 100 people from Spartanburg and surrounding areas, as well as North Carolina and Georgia. There will likely be a drawing to determine Jo-Jo's forever home, Lamb said.</p><p>Animal Services has recently taken a new approach to animal control, Lamb said. Instead of enforcement, the officers focus more on outreach and partnerships with the community and organizations.</p><p>The department has begun a trap, neuter and release program for feral cats that has been so successful that no cats have been euthanized this year. </p><p>“The response has been overwhelming,” Lamb said. “We have had zero complaints from the community. Everyone has gotten behind it.”</p><p>Through a $38,000 PetSmart Charities grant, the department traps feral cats, has them sterilized and ear-tipped to identify them as sterilized, and then the animals are released.</p><p>“We've been able to reduce call volume and are making Spartanburg an animal-friendly community,” Lamb said.</p><p>Animal Allies currently has a need for foster homes for kittens that are too young to be sterilized. The Animal Services department would still like to find people who know of wild, feral cats that need to be sterilized.</p><p>For more information, visit the Animal Allies website at www.animalallies.org or call 576-6971, or visit the Public Safety Animal Services Facebook page at www.facebook.com/spartanburgpets.</p>